Sutherland Shire Council's Seniors Festival starts this week

The event will take place from 9am-3pm and will include a scenic, social bus trip from Engadine to the Sunrise Nursery at Helensburgh for morning tea. The group will then head on to Headlands Hotel at Austinmer Beach for lunch.

Details/Bookings: Engadine Community Services, 9520 7022.

The same day, the council's Bushcare team will host the first of its Seniors Festival events - a guided walk through Albert DeLardes Reserve at Illawong.

Walkers will be joined by bushcarer and local historian Greg Jackson for an informative walk and talk from 9am-noon.

Details: The event is free but registration is necessary. To register click here.

Also on Tuesday, the Bushcare team will host Bush Bugs - What's crawling in your backyard?

Seniors are invited to bring their grandchildren along to the Oyster Creek Gully at Kareela from 9am-11am.

Sutherland Shire Council's invasive species officer and ecologist Linda Brown and Georges River Keeper Marion Huxley will explain what bugs live in Oyster Creek and surrounding bush and why bugs are important.

The event includes a short walk along Oyster Creek Gully in search for water bugs and to collect water samples. It is suitable for children aged five and over if accompanied by a carer.

Details: Click here.

On Wednesday, April 14, the council's Bushcare team will host a sold-out Spotlighting Walk in the Royal National Park, from 7.30pm-9pm.

Also on April 14, 3Bridges Community will host a Devonshire tea and pamper session from 10am-noon.

Details: 0424 288 648.

A sold-out Intergenerational Storytelling indigenous short film festival will also be held at Hoyts Cronulla on April 14.

A Seniors Comedy Gala Day will be held on Thursday, April 15. There are two sessions, 10.30am-12.30pm and 2pm-4pm.

Comedy for a Cause will feature comedians Peter Berner, Tommy Dean, David Smeidt and Bruce Griffiths.

Details: 9710 0159.

Sutherland Shire Libraries will host a Taming Technology talk on Thursday, April 15, from 10.30am-11.30am.

It aims to show how you can discover fascinating stories from Sutherland Shire's history.

Details: 9710 0351.

There are a number of events planned for Friday, April 16, including a movie screening of Peter Rabbit 2 at Hoyts Cinemas, Cronulla, from 10am.

Seniors are invited to come along with their grandkids to watch the fun movie.

Details: 9710 0159.

Also on Friday, Service NSW will host Cost of Living pop-in sessions throughout the day from 9am-5pm offering information about cost of living Aged Care Driving Tests.

Sessions will also be offered on digital services available.

Saturday, April 17, will see outdoor sketching classes at EG Waterhouse Camellia Gardens at Caringbah from 10am-noon.

People are invited to come to try their hand at observational sketching and painting.

Details: 0402 354 960.

Also on Saturday, Sutherland Shire Heritage Festival will be held at Hazelhurst Arts Centre from 10am-3pm, with tours of the Hazelhurst Cottage held every half an hour.

Also on Saturday, Engadine Community Services will present "Welcome to your Aged Care Journey" from 9am to noon.

There will be an outdoor information display about community aged care options and optional free confidential consultations.

Details: 9520 7022.

Sutherland Shire Council's Seniors Festival runs from Tuesday, April 13, to Saturday, April 24, and features dozens of events with an emphasis on health and well-being, and this year's theme 'In our Nature'.

The aim is to help seniors become familiar with a variety of local services that offer suitable programs for residents over the age of 60.

Many of the events to take place during the festival will have an emphasis on health and well-being, and includes fitness activities, art workshops, educational seminars, film screenings, hobbies and interest groups, plus opportunities to explore the great outdoors.

Sutherland Shire mayor Steve Simpson said he hoped to see as many seniors as possible enjoy the program of events.

Details: To view the full program of week one events click here.